Monkey Munch

Photographs poorly, but tastes great!

One of Big Girl's "Summer Bucket List" items was to make Monkey Munch. She has been bugging me all last week to make it, since our summer list was "expiring" on Labor Day.

The snack recipe was one we first saw eons ago on "Jon & Kate Plus 8" and Big Girl has been a fan ever since she saw it on that TV show. After the recipe was mentioned on the show (I think it was in 2008? Doesn't seem that long ago!), we searched for the recipe and found it under another name: "Chex Muddy Buddies." It's also called "Puppy Chow" in some circles too, I believe.

But whatever you call it, it's really good. It doesn't look really good, but it is! And not that expensive to make. You don't have to use Chex brand cereal -- I actually use the generic version. It's kind of messy to make -- I would suggest that when you are mixing the melted ingredients with the cereal, divide up the cereal into two covered bowls or two large Ziplocs. It's just easier and less messy mixing everything, especially when you add in the powdered sugar.

Here's the original Chex recipe: 

Chex Muddy Buddies (a.k.a. Monkey Munch)

Ingredients:

9 cups any Chex or generic Chex cereal (or combination of rice, corn and/or wheat Chex)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions:

1. Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.

2. In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.

3. Add powdered sugar. (It's a lot of sugar -- I just add it until I think it's "enough.") Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

It makes a yummy crunchy "movie night" snack 

that tastes like candy but isn't candy. 

Just be sure to have napkins on hand!